POPs in the news

New lines of research suggest that chronic dietary exposure to POPs may also contribute to obesity and type 2 diabetes.2 In this issue of EHP, researchers examine how one POP in particular—2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF)—affects the composition of the mouse gut microbiome.3 They report that TCDF exposure alters the gut microbiome in ways that may prove to contribute to obesity and other metabolic diseases. More: Environmental Health PerspectivesPOPs Modify Gut Microbiota–Host Metabolic Homeostasis in Mice (Research article)

New lines of research suggest that chronic dietary exposure to POPs may also contribute to obesity and type 2 diabetes.2 In this issue of EHP, researchers examine how one POP in particular—2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF)—affects the composition of the mouse gut microbiome.3 They report that TCDF exposure alters the gut microbiome in ways that may prove to contribute to obesity and other metabolic diseases. More: Environmental Health PerspectivesPOPs Modify Gut Microbiota–Host Metabolic Homeostasis in Mice (Research article)

Lots of chemicals are considered safe in low doses. But what happens when you ingest a little bit of a lot of different chemicals over time? In some cases, these combinations may conspire to increase your risk of cancer, according to a new report. More: Los Angeles Times

Lots of chemicals are considered safe in low doses. But what happens when you ingest a little bit of a lot of different chemicals over time? In some cases, these combinations may conspire to increase your risk of cancer, according to a new report. More: Los Angeles Times

A global taskforce of 174 scientists from leading research centers across 28 countries studied the link between mixtures of commonly encountered chemicals and the development of cancer. The study selected 85 chemicals not considered carcinogenic to humans and found 50 supported key cancer-related mechanisms at exposures found in the environment today. More:ScienceDaily

Cocktail of common chemicals may trigger cancer

A global taskforce of 174 scientists from leading research centers across 28 countries studied the link between mixtures of commonly encountered chemicals and the development of cancer. The study selected 85 chemicals not considered carcinogenic to humans and found 50 supported key cancer-related mechanisms at exposures found in the environment today. More:ScienceDaily

In a review of various agricultural chemicals, IARC's specialist panel said it had decided to classify lindane as "carcinogenic to humans" in its Group 1 category, DDT as "probably carcinogenic to humans" in its Group 2A class, and the herbicide 2,4-D as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" in its Group 2B. More: REUTERS
See also: Press Release - International Agency for Research on CancerCarcinogenicity of lindane, DDT, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - The Lancet Oncology

WHO agency says insecticides lindane and DDT linked to cancer

In a review of various agricultural chemicals, IARC's specialist panel said it had decided to classify lindane as "carcinogenic to humans" in its Group 1 category, DDT as "probably carcinogenic to humans" in its Group 2A class, and the herbicide 2,4-D as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" in its Group 2B. More: REUTERS
See also: Press Release - International Agency for Research on CancerCarcinogenicity of lindane, DDT, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - The Lancet Oncology

What do a pizza box, a polar bear and you have in common? - All carry a kind of industrial toxicant called poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs, that do two things: They make life convenient, and they also appear to increase the risk of cancer. The New York Times

Chemicals in Your Popcorn?

What do a pizza box, a polar bear and you have in common? - All carry a kind of industrial toxicant called poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs, that do two things: They make life convenient, and they also appear to increase the risk of cancer. The New York Times

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) pose significant environmental concerns due to their stability and bioaccumulation in humans and animals. Current methods for extraction and measurement of PFCs require relatively large volumes of blood samples, not suitable for frequent blood sampling and biomonitoring. A new microassay for analyzing PFCs in small volumes (less than five microliters) of blood has been developed. More: Environmental Science and Technology

Biomonitoring of Perfluorinated Compounds in a Drop of Blood

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) pose significant environmental concerns due to their stability and bioaccumulation in humans and animals. Current methods for extraction and measurement of PFCs require relatively large volumes of blood samples, not suitable for frequent blood sampling and biomonitoring. A new microassay for analyzing PFCs in small volumes (less than five microliters) of blood has been developed. More: Environmental Science and Technology

USA - One of the few shining stars of the nation’s economy, the $812-billion chemistry business, is working with Congress to pass a law that would actually give the federal government more authority to regulate chemicals. An industry that has spent the past 40 or so years operating under a loosely defined “chemical regulatory system” in the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) has decided it’s time to bring U.S. chemical regulations into the 21st century. More: The Philadelphia Tribune - USA

Chemical industry advocating more regulations

USA - One of the few shining stars of the nation’s economy, the $812-billion chemistry business, is working with Congress to pass a law that would actually give the federal government more authority to regulate chemicals. An industry that has spent the past 40 or so years operating under a loosely defined “chemical regulatory system” in the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) has decided it’s time to bring U.S. chemical regulations into the 21st century. More: The Philadelphia Tribune - USA

In recent decades, many common migratory songbirds have declined in population. Several factors could explain this drop-off, including habitat loss, climate change, feline predators, and wind turbines. But a new study finds that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), toxic industrial pollutants, may share some of the blame by affecting birds’ ability to migrate. More: Chemical and Engineering News

Persistent Industrial Pollutants Could Stymie Songbird Migration

In recent decades, many common migratory songbirds have declined in population. Several factors could explain this drop-off, including habitat loss, climate change, feline predators, and wind turbines. But a new study finds that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), toxic industrial pollutants, may share some of the blame by affecting birds’ ability to migrate. More: Chemical and Engineering News

If you closely examine your living room couch, your favorite easy chair or your child’s car seat, the odds are strong that you will find upholstery that is filled with polyurethane foam treated with a chemical flame retardant. More:The New York Times

A Flame Retardant That Came With Its Own Threat to Health

If you closely examine your living room couch, your favorite easy chair or your child’s car seat, the odds are strong that you will find upholstery that is filled with polyurethane foam treated with a chemical flame retardant. More:The New York Times

Chemicals used to make products waterproof and stain resistant are persistent, pervasive, potentially harmful to humans, and should be regulated and largely replaced, according a statement signed by more than 200 scientists. More:Environmental Health News

Scientists call for limits on stain- and water-proofing chemicals

Chemicals used to make products waterproof and stain resistant are persistent, pervasive, potentially harmful to humans, and should be regulated and largely replaced, according a statement signed by more than 200 scientists. More:Environmental Health News

A Cooper's hawk discovered near a waste transfer station in greater Vancouver, Canada, is believed to be the most polluted wild bird ever discovered. In fact, it was so contaminated with flame retardant chemicals that it was "flameproof", according to a McGill University news release. Publishing in the journal Science of the Total Environment, the researchers compared levels of PBDEs in the liver fat of 13 birds of prey across Vancouver. More:www.sciencealert.com

The world’s most polluted bird was so toxic it was “flameproof”

A Cooper's hawk discovered near a waste transfer station in greater Vancouver, Canada, is believed to be the most polluted wild bird ever discovered. In fact, it was so contaminated with flame retardant chemicals that it was "flameproof", according to a McGill University news release. Publishing in the journal Science of the Total Environment, the researchers compared levels of PBDEs in the liver fat of 13 birds of prey across Vancouver. More:www.sciencealert.com

GENEVA - The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes, Baskut Tuncak, urged the global community to do more to protect workers from exposure to hazardous substances and chemicals. More:United Nations Human Rights - News

GENEVA - The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes, Baskut Tuncak, urged the global community to do more to protect workers from exposure to hazardous substances and chemicals. More:United Nations Human Rights - News

Greenland’s polar bears have a thyroid problem. Their endocrine systems, too, are being disrupted. Kristin Møller Gabrielsen of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and colleagues report in the journal Environmental Research that they examined the liver, muscle and kidney tissues taken from seven polar bears. They also analysed the effect of more than 50 contaminants in plasma samples from Ursus maritimus. More:RTCC.org

Polar bears hit by twin threats of pollution and climate change

Greenland’s polar bears have a thyroid problem. Their endocrine systems, too, are being disrupted. Kristin Møller Gabrielsen of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and colleagues report in the journal Environmental Research that they examined the liver, muscle and kidney tissues taken from seven polar bears. They also analysed the effect of more than 50 contaminants in plasma samples from Ursus maritimus. More:RTCC.org

Toxins are now a major contributor to, and in some cases the cause of, virtually all chronic diseases. That's what Joseph E. Pizzorno, former advisor to President Clinton on complementary and alternative medicines, says. "I have become convinced that the toxic load in modern civilisation is now probably even more important than nutritional deficiencies in terms of causing diseases in our patients," says Pizzorno. More:The Sidney Morning Herald

Health food expert Joseph E. Pizzorno on toxins and modern diet

Toxins are now a major contributor to, and in some cases the cause of, virtually all chronic diseases. That's what Joseph E. Pizzorno, former advisor to President Clinton on complementary and alternative medicines, says. "I have become convinced that the toxic load in modern civilisation is now probably even more important than nutritional deficiencies in terms of causing diseases in our patients," says Pizzorno. More:The Sidney Morning Herald

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